The U.S. State Department’s current travel advisory for Mexico maintains different risk levels for the two Baja states, a distinction that matters for the millions of Americans who visit the peninsula each year. Here is exactly what the advisory says and what it means for travelers.
The northern state – home to Tijuana, Ensenada, Rosarito, Tecate, Mexicali, and San Felipe – carries a Level 3 advisory citing crime and kidnapping risks. However, the advisory’s fine print is important: travel restrictions for U.S. government employees apply only to the Mexicali Valley. There are no restrictions on U.S. government travel to Tijuana, Ensenada, Rosarito, Valle de Guadalupe, or the main Highway 1 corridor.
The State Department notes that Tijuana’s high homicide numbers are concentrated in non-tourist areas and are predominantly targeted violence between criminal organizations. The advisory recommends remaining on main highways and avoiding remote or isolated areas, particularly after dark.
The southern state – covering Los Cabos, La Paz, Loreto, Todos Santos, and Mulegé – carries the lower Level 2 advisory, the same risk level assigned to most of Western Europe. There are no travel restrictions for U.S. government employees anywhere in BCS. A 2025 safety ranking placed Baja California Sur as the second-safest state in all of Mexico.
The State Department uses a four-tier system: Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), and Level 4 (Do Not Travel). For context, France and the United Kingdom both carry Level 2 advisories – the same as Baja California Sur. No part of the Baja peninsula carries a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” designation.
On February 22, 2026, the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana issued a shelter-in-place directive for consulate staff due to ongoing security operations in the city. The alert was temporary and has since been lifted, but it underscores why travelers should monitor the U.S. Embassy’s security alerts page and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov before any trip to Mexico.
The full text of the Mexico travel advisory, including state-by-state breakdowns and maps of restricted areas, is available at travel.state.gov.